Welp, Friday just slipped away from me! It was our 1st full week back - and it was a busy one! Curtis and I saw A Star Is Born (😭), I attended my 1st UConn basketball game (ever!), and I had a soccer game on Friday night We also celebrated my Opa’s 89th birthday on Saturday which was lovely. Hope you had a great weekend xo

Thank god for a short week :) Getting back into the swing of things was tougher than I would have thought, ha. Tomorrow I’m bringing my brother around Hartford - we’re going to stop at my favorite local coffee shop, Story & Soil, then browse The Wadsworth Atheneum and then lunch at the new El Pollo Guapo location on Front Street. A perfect rainy day plan.

It’s my birthday today! :) Can someone send me those awesome flora/fauna tiles?! This week has been full of celebration - yesterday was our union holiday luncheon followed by a family birthday dinner at our house, and today is our office holiday lunch followed by dinner and drinks with friends! And we’ll be continuing the fun on Saturday with a big brewery hang with even more friends :) 29 doesn’t seem too bad!

Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of me deciding to start up the little “Happy Friday” post again (see it here!). That went by fast! I have thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely continue to keep this little side project going. :)

I don’t think anyone is really keeping up with it, but I’m having fun - so that’s all that matters right now!

// I really need to get to Ireland someday! I’ve been thinking it would be a great one to do when we have a little one - it’s outdoorsy and cozy. I love the idea of getting a little cottage and having leisurely, unplanned days. Who knows how I’ll really feel when that time comes, I could be way off lol

Wowie, tomorrow is December! It’s my birthday month, and we host an annual Christmas party with our friends, and then it’s actually Christmas - so I’m excited! It make the sad dark evenings all worth it :) (cheery I know…)

We have a holiday party to attend to on Saturday and are hoping to pick up our Christmas tree at some point, so it will be a festive weekend!

So not only is that photo above super cute, but it has some awesome boots that I’ve been eying! Curtis just picked up his own pair of Blundstones, per high recommendation from our friends Lauren and Drew who each have at least one pair. I think I might need to be next :)

And boy did they come in handy this morning since we were shoveling our 1st winter storm! ❄️❄️❄️

So many ups and downs politically, but I’m just happy the CT governorship went to Ned Lamont (and that Jahana Hayes became the 1st black woman from CT to hold a Congress position, and that Chris Murphy got elected once again!!)

Switching gears - we are finally getting somewhere with the house, but will be spending all weekend continuing with projects.

I’ve been a fan of Baggu for a couple years now - from my 1st little U shaped leather pouch*, to my weekend internship with Blogshop (which liked to use fun brands like Baggu). They always nail the patterns and styling of their products and every season I have to remind my self that I don’t need another reusable bag :) They do make GREAT gifts though, so whenever I’m feeling the itch to buy one of their awesome new patterns, I think of who I can get it for!

* I just have to have a quick fan-girl moment about this little pouch. It is one of my favorite travel pouches! It’s perfect for weekends away - it fits my jewelry, birth control and eye mask - aka the essentials! The suede has really held up and gotten even more beautiful as it’s aged. And I have also given these as gifts a few times and my friends have loved them.

Happy Friday, friends! I know all I talk about is house stuff now, but dang - I am tired! So much painting, moving, rearranging, cleaning, etc. I am SO excited for some chill time this weekend to tackle some lingering projects. We got to the kitchen last night and it feels amazing to have one room really figured out. I love work, but it’s really getting in the way of my unpacking right now ;) My interests lay in the decorating part of home owning, so I am getting a little impatient, ha. Soon!

Welp it happened again, I missed my Friday post! So, happy monday :) I took the day off to do more home stuff - we are almost done with painting and are SO close to being officially moved in - yesssss.

Hi, friends! I realized that after my Seattle trip, I didn’t post any photos, and I wanted to get better about that! These are just some of the highlights from our vacation to Portugal. You can see more on my instagram (posted photos & highlighted stories), but I wanted to share a little more info here.

We arrived on Tuesday, Sept 11th checked into our airbnb a little early. Which was great - bc it was about 90 degrees the city is HILLY…and our room was in a 5th floor walkup.

GUYS. It’s been killing me to keep this secret - but Curtis and I bought a house! And we’re currently, as you read this, closing and starting the moving/painting/making it our own process. *Well, that was on Friday when I forgot to post this in all of the hectic-ness that is home buying* Wild. We really can’t get over that it’s ours, ha. Big things ahead! Obviously big responsibilty as well, but we’re ready.

And in true Christa fashion, my life is also going in a million directions, with a gals trip to Salem this weekend. (Tuesday update - SO much fun! Check out some pics & stories on my instagram) So moving will be put on hold to hang with 2 of my besties while we explore all things witchy!

And because things are crazy, no links this week. I’ll keep ya’ll updated asap! xo

Happy Friday! What a week! I’ve had plans every day after work this week, with 3 of those being work events - including something on campus tomorrow. Sunday is going to be an absolute chill day.

On a yummier note, doesn’t that kimchi friend rice look amazing?! I’m excited to really buckle down and cook again this Fall and Winter. With the cooler weather coming, it will be nice to be back in the kitchen - it was just too damn hot in the summer!

I’m off to NH with one of my gal pals, Brittany, for a weekend up at the Farm. We’re excited to get out of town and chill a bit. Some of my family will be there and we’re planning on hiking Mt. Monadnock on Saturday and bopping around Peterborough on Sunday.